It's been two days 48 hours since I put approx 50lbs of live rock in my tank that came from a established tank. Did a test and showing about .25ppm ammonia. Thinking I will test again in 4 days see where I am at. I have three viles of prodobio stop ammo start. Should I put one in or just never mind with those. Here is a picture of my test. And PH seemed to be 8.2.
Cycle has started.
- Thread starter new2reef2
- Start date
kfisc
Well-known member
I would skip any additives and just let your tank cycle naturally, carefully monitoring over the next month or two. I'm strongly of the belief that the majority of commercial additives (aside from very basic calcium, alk and mag) are designed to take advantage of new reef keepers and have very dubious value.
That's the plan I'm in no rush. A few years ago I tried to do a marine tank when I had minimal money and rushed it and it was a disaster. This time I have the resources to buy quality stuff and in no rush. I have some fluval trace elements additives. I bought it from a pet smart that was going under for like 1$ I hate using Hagen products but it should work. Not planning on adding that stuff to til I get my cycle finished with.
On a side note the API test kits are notorious for showing zero ammonia as 0.25 so you may not actually have ammonia present in your tank. Do not use the prodobio stop ammonia, it will inhibit the cycle, not help it. You may want to add an ammonia source, using either pure ammonia or a couple of dead raw shrimp to induce an ammonia spike. If you go the ammonia route use pure ammonia without surfactants or perfumes (available at most hardware stores, I got mine at Ace Hardware). To be sure the ammonia does not contain surfactants shake the bottle and if it bubbles up like dish soap it has surfactants in it, pure ammonia will not have bubbles. To raise 100 gallons of water from 0 to 2 ppm ammonia you would need to add 0.8 grams (8 ml) of standard 10% pure ammonia.
gottalikesharks
New member
Some good info on the ammonia there, I did not know that was how to check for pure ammonia. I also was not sure how much ammonia to add to start the cycle process in my 120
thelawnwrangler
New member
are you sure you had an ammonia spike?
thelawnwrangler
New member
I would give it a few days. Then you have to decide if you trust the rock or want to ammonia spike it.
Please correct me here. If all of his rock is live rock from another, established system, then why would he need to induce a new cycle. The rock already has the right bacteria on it and it can process the detritus and ammonia produced in the new tank.
As with any tank, you can't put in a half dozen fish right away, but you should be able to add some inverts and a fish to get going, right?
As with any tank, you can't put in a half dozen fish right away, but you should be able to add some inverts and a fish to get going, right?
thelawnwrangler
New member
I don't have my first fish yet, but my understanding is that it is a matter of validating that you do have a good colony of bacteria before you introduce livestock. So theoretically yeah you are good to go to start small and slow, but why not be sure is the theory I think.
